Jacquard mechanism.



13 awe 1440,13

Patented July 30, 1912.

2 8HEETSBHEET 1.

- a jwuawtoz J. A. GROBBLI. JAGQUARD MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1910.

Patented July 30,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH Cc.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOSEPH A. GBOEBLI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ALPI-IONSE H. KURSHEEDT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

JACQ'UARD MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. GROEBLI, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in JacquardMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in jacquard mechanism, and in the present case I have illustrated only such parts of a complete jacquard mechanism as is necessary to show the application of my invention, as a complete jacquard would necessitate a very extensive showing and my present invention can be readily understood from the present showing and from cross reference to certain United States patents issued to me or my assignees. Furthermore, my present invention is susceptible of use in different forms of jacquards and a full description of each jacquard in which my invention may be embodied would be impracticable here.

The present invention is intended more particularly for use in jacquards such as are used to operate embroidering machines, wherein a large tambour frame carries a fabric on which a multiplicity of needles operate to produce embroidery and which tambour frame the jacquard automatically positions for each stitch. Certain United States patents have been issued to me or to my assignees, for jacquards for such purpose, the patents being dated August 21, 1883, and November 6, 1894:, and numbered 283,707 and 528,632, respectively, to which reference will be made herein. My present invention may be advantageously embodied in the structures of either of said patents as well as in other jacquards and a reference to such patents will teach the present invention and its uses sufficiently to enable those skilled in the art to employ the present in-' vention in other forms of acquards.

Jacquards for operating embroidering machines are required to position the tambour frame as above stated, and to be effective they must be capable of producing a great number of positions of the tambour frame within certain limits, the greater the number of such positions which the jacquard is capable of controlling the greater the efficiency of the jacquard and the more perfect the product of the embroidering machine will be. The possibilities of the embroidering machine are increased as the number of positions which the jacquard can produce in the tambour frame, are increased. The movement of the tambour frame during any given stitch is comparatively small, when it is considered that such tambour frame is from 20 to 30 feet long and the entire machine proportionately large; and as the jacquard is automatically controlled by means of a jacquard card or paper roll, the movements in the jacquard parts When initiated by the jacquard card are considerably greater than the ultimate movement produced on the tambour frame of the embroidering machine, and the movement is reduced by suitable mechanism before the tambour frame is moved thereby. This movement in the jacquard when first produced is usually a variable reciprocating movement and is transformed into a variable rotary movement. In some jacquards as in my said second patent, two movements of different units are combined into a single final movement by mechanism which permits of a great number of positions of the tambour frame with few parts in the jacquard, by combining two movements of different unitsin various combinations. The present invention relates to that part of the jacquard by which the variable reciprocating movement is transformed into a variable rotary movement and the present invention may be employed whether the jacquard is one in which the extent of movement is determined by a single primary operation, or one in which two or more movements of different units are combined to produce a movement varying according to the number of combinations which it is possible to obtain with the two movements. These broad objects are, to a certain extent, met in. a former construction, that of my said Patent 528,632, but the present invention is an advance over such device and others because I am enabled to convert a reciprocating movement of any extent, within the limits of the machine, into a corresponding rotary'movement. In other words there is no limitation, so far as changing the character of the movement is concerned upon the number of different positions which can be obtained within the limits of the jacquard. Furthermore the change from a reciprocating into a rotary movement is accomplished by a positive and certain device, which will occasion no defects in the product of the embroidering machine and which will not throw greater stress upon the acquard mechanism as a whole.

It is necessary in changing the reciprocating into a rotary movement to do so with a device which will return after each operation to its first or normal position before a repositioning; and the direction of movement must be susceptible of change at each operation, whereby the tambour frame will be moved, say first to the right and then to the left; and it must also be capable of moving the tambour frame successively a number of times in a given direction, to increase the amplitude of movement of the tambour frame or other purpose. In my said second patent the reciprocating movement is converted into a rotary movement by means of rack frames which actuate gears, the racks being oppositely disposed so as to be engaged singly on either side of the gear, whereby the direction of the r'otary movement may be changed and though such device is positive and will permit of a variation in the extent of movement it has its limitations, because the teeth of the pinion make it necessary for the racks to mesh with such teeth and the variations in the movement are thus limited. To do away with the teeth on the racks and pinions, would necessitate a very great pressure between the parts to produce enough friction to make the movement positive and such a construction would not meet the requirements. In all former devices there has been a relative movement between the engaging and the engaged parts. second patent there is relative movement between the racks and the pinion, while if the pinion teeth were removed and smooth bars instead of the racks used, there would still he relative movement between the element engaging and the element engaged, in the transforming mechanism. I have therefore provided a converting device in the preferred form of which a continuous band on gages a drum or pulley and means for gripping this band on either side of the drum are provided by which any adjustment within the limits of the machine is possible and the movement will be positively transformed. No regard need be paid to the meshing of the teeth of gear and pinion and therefore the extent of the movement trans formed may vary as much as desired.

My invention in its broad aspect contemplates the use of a plurality of elements in the nature of gripping or clutching devices and an element of the rotary device to be gripped thereby, wherein there will be no That is, in my said.

relative movement between these during the transforming operation.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a jacquard, wherein my improvements in one form are shown, Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in a different position.

I will first describe the mechanism herein shown and I will then show by reference to my other patents what application my present invention has in a complete jacquard.

In the present showing I have provided a supporting frame 1, which is suitably mounted in the jacquard structure and which supports various operating elements to which full reference will be made.

The shaft 2, which carries a cam 3, is the main or operating shaft of the jacquard and from which the operating force of the jacquard is derived, as in my said previous jacquard structures. lln the form of my invention herein shown the revolution of the cam 3 operates continuously to produce a rocking motion in the lever 4, which fulcrums at 5, through the connection of a bowl 6 on an ear of this lever, with the groove 10 of the cam. The link 7 which is fulcrumed by means of a pin 8 in the slot 9, of the lever, would, so far as the cam is concerned, be operated the same extent at each revolution of the cam, but in certain known forms of jacquards the pin 8 is moved to various positions along the lever 4, whereby the extent of movement imparted to the link 7 is adjusted to secure very fine differences of movement. This adjustment of the fulcrum is caused by mechanism controlled automatically from the jacquard card or roll and a description of the mechanism therefor would lead to a very extensive description; and the mechanism therefor is known in the art. The link 7, responding to the action of the lever 4, imparts a reciprocating movement to an element which operates either directly or in directly in the transformation of the movement into arotary movement and the ele ment here shown operated by the link or pitman 7, is a longitudinal bar 11, which is guided in the sockets 12 and 13, on the cross pieces 14 and 15, of the frame; and

this bar operates part of the transforming mechanism.

Inasmuch as the bar 11 responds to the movement of the link 7, and inasmuch as the extent of movement is automatically controlled from the jacquard roll, it will be apparent that the reciprocating movement of the bar 11 will be a variable one, depending upon the extent of movement which it is desired to produce upon the tambour frame,

the automatic positioning of which is the primary function of the jacquard. The movement produced in the bar 11 is therefore a variable reciprocating movement and in all machines so far known to me this particular movement is unchanging in direction, that is, it is a direct reciprocating movement. The function of this bar 11 is to provide the operating force which is transformed into a rotary movement by which the tambour frame positioning elements are operated; and this reciprocating movement is much greater than the final movement required to position the tambour frame, which latter is usually notmore than a fraction of an inch at any one time. In the device the drawings show there is no combining of two different movements into a single movement in the jacquard proper, for the purpose of reaching a greater number of ultimate movements with a few parts, although the primary movement is reduced before acting upon the tambour frame positioning elements; but cross reference will be made hereinafter to my former patents showing how the present mechanism may be employed in a jacquard wherein two movements of different units are combined to produce a great number of ultimate movements.

As herein stated, the extent of the reciproeating movement is altered by changing the fulcrum of the link 7 and the lever 4, which is the principle on which certain jacquard mechanisms are based. But the variable reciprocating movement may be produced by connecting, say the link 7, with the bar M, of my said earlier Patent No. 283,707. In that event the reciprocating movement will be varied because the extent of movement of the bar M itself depends upon which of the many jacquard slides engages the lever O, and these jacquard slides are actuated automatically by the jacquard card or pattern roll.

From the description thus far it has been shown how the operating force is derived and how the extent of movement is controlled. The other most important factor up to this point is the device for determining the direction of the movement when it is converted into a rotary movement. I prefer to employ a device for this which will apply the power therefor through certain elements and to initiate such by means of other elements, the latter being also controlled from the acquard card. The shaft 16 in the present showing is the element which is operated by the reciprocating movement, whereby the transformation of the movement takes place, and this shaft corresponds in function with say the shafts D D, of my said second patent and it may be similar in every respect, except in the manner of revolving it, and the entire jacquard mechanism beyond this shaft, that is, every element succeeding this in the mechanical operation'may be the same as in my said second patent. It also corresponds with the shafts G and H, of my first patent. Tnstead of revolving this shaft 16 by means of rack and gear in the manner shown in my previous patent I have employed a device susceptible of any adjustment. For this purpose I have provided a band 17, preferably of flat metal, and it is preferably a continuous band, passing over the periphery of the pulley 18, of the shaft 16, and also passing over an idler 19, revolving on an axle 20, which latter I have shown mounted on the cross piece 21; and which may be located to suit the particular jacquard mechanism. The band 17 may simply have a surface contact with the idler 19 since the latter performs no active function and the band 17 may also have only a surface contact with the pulley 18, but in order to prevent any lost motion in the transformation of the movement herein described I prefer to provide the band 17 with perforations 22 (see Fig. 2), in which projections or teeth 23 on the pulley 18 engage, to prevent slipping between the band and the pulley, thereby preventing any lost motion and making this portion of the transforming device as positive, if not more so, than former devices, without throwing any undue stress on the jacquard mechanism.

The reciprocating bar 11 operates through clutches to propel the band 17 to produce the rotary movement. I have shown a cross arm 24, secured to the bar 11 by means of a pin 25, and this arm is preferably cast integral with portions of the clutching device.

I have shown the jaws 26, on this arm 24, which have their grippingends 27, disposed close to the inner surface of the band and T preferably roughen or serrate the gripping surface 28 of the jaws to prevent slipping of the band. Extending out from the jaw members 26, I have provided the bifurcated lugs 29, on which the second jaw members 30, 31, are fulcrumed at 32. These have gripping ends 33, which are also preferably roughened or serrated and lie near the op posite side of the bands to the jaw members 27. The opposite ends 8 1, 85, of the movable jaw members preferably extend back sufficiently to provide leverage and are operated to open or close the jaws for the purpose of releasing or gripping the band as will appear. Springs 36, 37, are provided as a resilient means for operating the movable jaw members in one direction of their movement.

The mechanism which operates the clutch is adapted to produce either of three conditions, to wit: with both jaws open as in Fig. 1-, which is what may be called the normal or starting position; or with either the right or left jaw clamped upon the band 17; but the mechanism is such that both i jaws can not clamp the band at the same time, as destruction of part of the mechanism would result therefrom.

There is a sliding plate 38, which travels in the grooves defined by the flanges 39, of the supporting frame, in a direction preferably at right angles to the reciprocating parts and preferably immediately below the same. This plate has upwardly extending flanges 40, and 41, which I form sufiiciently long to engage the ends 34 and 35 respectively of the movable jaw members in any position which they assume. That is, the plate 38, having no longitudinal movement, the flanges 40, 41, are made long enough to correspond with the extreme longitudinal movement of the jaw members 34, 35. The disposition of the flanges 40, 41, in relation to the members 34, 35, is such, that in any of the several positions of the plate 38, but one jaw can clamp the band 17 at the same time.

The machine may be first considered in the position shown in Fig. 1, full lines. The bar 11 is ready to be drawn forward upon the movement of the cam, or toward the top of the sheet of the drawing and in that direction of movement only, it is adapted to move the band, as the return movement is always an idle one; and is by gripping the band with either of the two gripping jaws during the forward movement that the rotary movement is caused in either direction; and the reciprocation of the plate 38 controls the clutching device. The device for operating the plate 38 I preferably make the same as the device for operating the plates L in my said second patent; wherein the force for such movement is provided by continuously operating parts while the initiating elements are automatically controlled by the jacquard card. The plate 38 is connected with a double arm lever 42, 43, by means of a pin 44, on which the lever fulcrums; and the arms 42, 43, of this lever I have made of different lengths. The lever arms are provided with inwardly facing sockets 45, 46. There is a lever 47 rocking upon a fulcrum 49, which is continuously operated by the rod 50, which is the power source for the operation of this part of the mechanism; and the lever 48, has pins 51, 52, on its opposite ends which are so positioned that either, but not both, may engage in the sockets 45, 46, respectively. The lever 42, 43, is rocked by the rod 53, which is auto matically controlled by the jacquard card as in my previous patent and this is the initiating element for determining the direction of the rotary movement into which the reciprocating movement is to be transformed. In Fig. 1, (full lines) the rod 53, has thrown the lever 42, 43, so that the pin 52 engages in the socket 46 of the arm 43.

The next movement of the rod 50 will rock the lever 48 and in doing so the lever 48, through the engagement of the pin 52 in the socket 46, will move the plate 38 to the left, and to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the plate 38 moves to the left the flange 40 rocks the end 34 and opens the right jaw against the action of the spring 36. As the flange 41 moves to the left also, the end 34 of the opposite jaw will follow it, forced by the spring 37, until the left jaw closes on the band 17. The period has now been reached when the bar 11 will be drawn forward when the band will be propelled in a right hand direction and the shaft 16 will receive a similar movement. Upon the eX- treme movement caused by the cam 3, another change takes place in the clutch device so that the return reciprocating movement will be an idle one. By the time the bar 11 has reached its extreme forward position the movement of the rod 50 will have reversed, when the lever 48 will be rocked until it reaches the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. In returning to this position, which is the position at which either the arms 42, 43, are engaged by the initiating device, the plate 38 is returned to the full line position of Fig. 4, when both jaws will be open. Upon the return of the bar 11 the mechanism is ready for the next operation. Should it be desired to produce a reverse rotary movement in the shaft 16 (to the left) in the next operation, the jacquard card will cause the rod 53 to move the lever 42, 43, until the pin 51 engages in the socket 45. The movement of the plate 38 will now be in a reverse direction to the first described movement and in consequence the right jaw will clamp the band 17 and the movement of the band will be in a reverse direction to the previous movement, and the bar 11 will again return idle. In this way the direction of movement may be altered, or several consecutive movements may be made in one direction. The grip of the jaws on the band is firm and the surface contact therewith is made sufficient to prevent slipping, and thereby lost motion.

The device thus far described is duplicated as many times as may be necessary for the particular jacquard mechanism to which it is applied. lVhere a single initial movement is produced by the changing fulcrum method, or by a lever imparting a variable reciprocation as in my said first patent there will be two such devices as has been described; and they are preferably superimposed. I have shown in dotted lines the position which the pulley may occupy in the under device, in which case the idler may be under the idler 19 and the band shorter than the former band. Otherwise the device is the same. At least two will be necessary in all known machines. Each shaft 16 is provided with a gear 54, which mesh respectively with the racks 55, 56, and these latter perform the same function as the racks c and (Z, in my said Patent 528,632. That is, they operate the two frame posi- ;t1on1ng guldes.

WVhen two movements of different units are united to produce a single ultimate movement as hereinbefore mentioned and as shown in my said last patent then four sets 10f transforming devices as herein shown will be used. In such case the bar 11 will take the places of the sliding frames Z, Z, Z and Z of my said patent and if desired these bars may be shaped to correspond with such frames and may be connected and operated in the same Way. As the combining of the two sets of movements takes place beyond the transforming devices the mechanism from the latter through to the tambour frame may be the same as in said patent.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my improvements may be embodied in various acquard mechanisms. As the clutch can grip at any point any degree of movement is possible in either direction.

The present form of my invention may be changed and my invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the broad spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention ,what I claim is;

1. A acquard mechanism embodying reciprocating means wherein reciprocating movements of varying extent may be produced, engaging means operated thereby and according to the variations of movement of the reciprocating means, rotative mechanism operated by said reciprocating means and according to the variable movements of the latter, and means for throwing said engaging means into operative relation with the rotative mechanism to cause the operation of the said rotative mechanism by said reciprocating means in one direction, and out of operation during the return movement, said engaging means being arranged to engage the rotative mechanism whereby there will be no relative movement between the element engaging and the element engaged during the operation of the rotative mechanism by the reciprocating means.

2. A jacquard mechanism embodying reciprocating means wherein reciprocating movements of varying extent may be produced, engaging means operated thereby and according to the variations of movements of the reciprocating means rotative mechanism operated by said reciprocating means and according to the variable movements of the latter, and means for throwing said engaging means into operative relation with the rotative mechanism to cause the operation of the said rotative mechanism by said reciprocating means in one direction, and out of operation during the return movement, said engaging means being arranged to engage the rotative mechanism whereby there will be no rela tive movement between the element engaging and the element engaged during the operation of the rotative mechanism by the reciprocating means, said engaging means traveling in the same general direction as the part of the rotative mechanism with which it engages.

3. A jacquard mechanism embodying reciprocating means wherein reciprocating movements of varying extent may be'produced, a plurality of engaging means operated thereby and according to the variations of movement of the reciprocating means, rotative mechanism operated by said reciprocating means and according to the variable movements of the latter, by the engagement of either of said engaging means with the rotative mechanism, said engaging means being arranged whereby they will operate the rotative mechanism in directions reverse to each other, means for throwing either of said engaging means into operative relation with the rotative mechanism during movement of the reciprocating means in one direction and out of operation upon the return movement thereof, said engaging means being arranged to engage the rot-ative mechanism whereby there will be no relative movement between the element engaging and the element engaged, during the operation of the rotative mechanism by the reciprocating means.

4:. A jacquard mechanism embodying means for producing a variable reciprocat ing movement, a rotative device and a band for operating the rotative mechanism, a plurality of clutches operated by the re ciprocating mechanism and means for causing either of said clutches to engage the said band to effect the operation of the rotative mechanism in either direction.

5. A jacquard mechanism embodying means for producing a variable reciprocating movement, a rotative device and a band for operating the rotative mechanism, a plurality of clutches operated by the re ciprocating device and means adapted to cause either of said clutches to engage the band, whereby the rotative mechanism may be operated in either direction, during the operation of said reciprocating mechanism, in one direction, and to release said clutch to cause the reciprocating mechanism to return idle.

6. A jacquard mechanism embodying means for producing a variable reciprocating movement, a rotative mechanism embodying a drum and a band for operating the drum, said band having a toothed engagement with the drum, a plurality of clutches operated With the reciprocating device and means adapted to cause either of said clutches to engage the band whereby the rotative mechanism may be operated in either direction.

7. A jacquard mechanism embodying means for producing a variable reciprocating movement, a rotative device embodying a shaft having a pulley, and an idler, and a band engaging over the pulley and idler and adapted to operate the former, a clutching device operating With the reciprocating mechanism and means for causing the clutching device to engage said band to propel the same in either direction.

8. A jacquard mechanism comprising means for producing a variable reciprocating movement a rotativermechanism, and a band for operatmg the same, a plurality oi clutches operating With the reciprocating 20 mechanism and adapted to engage said band to cause a rlght or left movement in the r0- itative mechanism, springs tending to close the jaws of said clutches on said band, and

means for positively operating to open the 25 jaws and adapted to positively open either,

JOSEPH A. GROEBLI.

l/Vitnesses:

WM. H. MAUTRER, JAMES A. CRAIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington. D. C. 

